Preview: Champions Cup, Friday

Scarlets have been boosted by the return of flanker James Davies from injury, who has recovered from a knee problem sustained in September.

Samson Lee is also recalled to the starting line-up to face Ulster on Friday after missing Wales’ November campaign with a hamstring issue.

However, fellow internationals Leigh Halfpenny and Jake Ball are out with concussion, with Johnny McNicholl and Lewis Rawlins taking their place in the XV at full-back and lock respectively.

Meanwhile, Ireland stars Iain Henderson and Will Addison have returned to the Ulster team for Friday’s crucial Heineken Champions Cup Round 3 clash.

Fellow internationals Rory Best and Jacob Stockdale, as well as Abbey Insurance Academy prop Eric O’Sullivan, are also included in the starting XV after featuring off the bench in the home win versus Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

Best, who will equal Andrew Trimble’s club record of 71 European appearances, will captain the side in Llanelli and will be joined in the front-row by O’Sullivan and Marty Moore.

Henderson will partner Kieran Treadwell, Ulster’s try-scorer against the Blues last week, in the second-row, while the loose forward trio of Sean Reidy, Jordi Murphy and Marcell Coetzee is unchanged.

John Cooney and Billy Burns are retained in the half-back positions, with Stuart McCloskey and Addison paired in midfield. Stockdale’s inclusion on the left wing results in Louis Ludik shifting to full-back, as Henry Speight is again named on the right flank.

Kyle McCall could make his 50th Ulster appearance, his first since April, after recovering from injury and being selected among the replacements.

As the capital side look to keep up their 100 percent home record this season so far, the team selection includes 13 changes from the side that faced Munster last weekend.

South African duo Jaco van der Walt and Duhan van der Merwe – who grabbed a brace of tries at Irish Independent Park – are the only players to retain their positions in the starting line-up.

Kinghorn is named at full-back after starting on the wing in Scotland’s 14-9 win over Argentina two weeks ago whilst Van der Merwe is selected on the wing alongside Graham – a try scorer in his last two games for the capital side.

A fresh centre pairing sees Chris Dean – an unused substitute in last weekend’s PRO14 loss to Munster – return to the starting XV alongside James Johnstone. Van der Walt keeps his place at fly-half and is partnered by 27-times capped Scotland international Pyrgos at scrum-half.

In the back-row, Mata – twice a try-scorer in his last run out against Scarlets – is selected at number eight alongside returning Scotland back-row duo Ritchie and Watson.

Meanwhile, Ryan Burrows captains Newcastle Falcons as they aim to build on their position at the top of Champions Cup Pool Five.

The Falcons have won both of their group games in Europe’s top-tier competition after defeating Toulon and Montpellier, Friday’s trip to Murrayfield coming in a run which has seen just one defeat in their last eight matches in all competitions.

Adam Radwan starts on the left wing after being the top try-scorer in last season’s Challenge Cup, centre Chris Harris featuring at the venue where he played two of Scotland’s autumn internationals.

Brett Connon starts at fly-half having landed a long-range penalty in an impressive cameo from the bench during last weekend’s victory at Northampton, Tonga captain Sonatane Takulua partnering him in the half-backs.

Adam Brocklebank and George McGuigan come into the front-row after impressing from the bench last weekend, Fiji lock Tevita Cavubati drafted in less than a fortnight after starting for his national team in their historic victory over France.

Gary Graham returns to Murrayfield having trained there with the Scotland squad during their recent autumn tests, Callum Chick starting at number eight having scored the dramatic winning try during the Falcons’ Champions Cup victory over Montpellier.